Mark A Linden1, Ivan L Cepeda2, Anne Synnes3, Ruth E Grunau4. 1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK. 2. Department of Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health, Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 3. Department of Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health, Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 4. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK Department of Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health, Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine factors which predict parenting stress in a longitudinal cohort of children born very preterm, and seen at age 7 years. METHODS: We recruited 100 very preterm (≤32 weeks gestational age) child-parent dyads and a control group of 50 term-born dyads born between 2001 and 2004 with follow-up at 7 years. Parents completed the Parenting Stress Index, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, Child Behavior Check List, Beck Depression Inventory and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires. Child IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale-IV. RESULTS: After controlling for maternal education, parents of preterm children (95% CI 111.1 to 121.4) scored higher (p=0.027) on the Parenting Stress Index than term-born controls (95% CI 97.8 to 113.2). Regression analyses showed that child externalising behaviour, sex and parent escape/avoidance coping style, predicted higher parenting stress in the preterm group. Parents of preterm girls expressed higher levels of stress than those of boys. CONCLUSIONS: Maladaptive coping strategies contribute to greater stress in parents of very preterm children. Our findings suggest that these parents need support for many years after birth of a very preterm infant. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
OBJECTIVE: To examine factors which predict parenting stress in a longitudinal cohort of children born very preterm, and seen at age 7 years. METHODS: We recruited 100 very preterm (≤32 weeks gestational age) child-parent dyads and a control group of 50 term-born dyads born between 2001 and 2004 with follow-up at 7 years. Parents completed the Parenting Stress Index, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, Child Behavior Check List, Beck Depression Inventory and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires. Child IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale-IV. RESULTS: After controlling for maternal education, parents of preterm children (95% CI 111.1 to 121.4) scored higher (p=0.027) on the Parenting Stress Index than term-born controls (95% CI 97.8 to 113.2). Regression analyses showed that child externalising behaviour, sex and parent escape/avoidance coping style, predicted higher parenting stress in the preterm group. Parents of preterm girls expressed higher levels of stress than those of boys. CONCLUSIONS: Maladaptive coping strategies contribute to greater stress in parents of very preterm children. Our findings suggest that these parents need support for many years after birth of a very preterm infant. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Authors: Beatriz O Valeri; Manon Ranger; Cecil M Y Chau; Ivan L Cepeda; Anne Synnes; Maria Beatriz M Linhares; Ruth E Grunau Journal: Clin J Pain Date: 2016-12 Impact factor: 3.442